Burning out the clock at the end of a game is much more important than yards. I am no fan of Collins either, but this game was an improvement. Figuring out how to win is important. Collins has a lot of coaching to learn and time management and closing out a game are things he has been completely inept at so far. This past weekend was a marginal improvement in those areas.
I understand WHY they burned clock, but it’s not what I would have done. We have a lot of kinks to work out on offense, and WCU was the best chance to do that.
For a team that needs to get six wins, you need to get tuned up in your tune up game.
We need our TEs engaged and effective. We need our WRs catching passes downfield—maybe we don’t need to work on 30 yard passes, but 15 or 20 yards will do. The WRs need to get as many reps getting open and catching the ball as possible. Our backs need that, too.
I would have liked one series with a backup QB. Sims went out last year, and it could happen again—you need to see someone else under the lights
I also would have gone more balanced because we weren’t getting first downs. Three runs and a punt isn’t really burning clock.
EDIT: that’s something you plan to do in the week before the game—maybe even earlier. Maybe they planned to do just what I said and canned the idea at halftime.